Napoli Take Advantage In Coppa Italia Semi-Final
13 February, 2020
Coppa Italia - Semi-Final first leg
Result: Inter Milan 0-1 Napoli
Date: 12 February 2020
Venue: San Siro Stadium
Inter Milan transpired 1-0 to Napoli in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at the San Siro Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Lautaro Martinez returned from suspension to partner Romelu Lukaku, as Matias Vecino dropped to the bench. Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso recalled Dries Mertens and Kostas Manolas amongst others.
Inter got off to a bright opening when Victor Moses combined with Marcelo Brozovic, who fired a minimal shot down the throat of David Ospina.
Martinez could have given Inter the lead on 17 minutes but after charging at the Gli Azzurri’s defence, the Argentine brought Ospina to a routine save.
Inter, who lined-up against strong opposition en-route to the last four, had the visitors on the edge towards the half-hour mark with Cristiano Biraghi going close from a free-kick.
Gli Azzurri must have taken the lead from their first sight on goal on the stroke of halftime, but Napoli goalkeeper Daniele Padelli rushed off his line to deny Mertens from a good angle.
Inter turned focus to the bench at the start of the second half and introduced Danilo D’Ambrosio who replaced Milan Skriniar.
However, Napoli were ahead seven minutes later after Fabian Ruiz chosen the top-left corner from the edge of the region carrying out a swift counterattack.
Antonio Conte looked for more spark from his side and with that introduced high-profile January signing Christian Eriksen with 66 minutes played.
Inter got a clear opening to go level ten minutes ;ater as Lukaku fired in a scale back from Martinez before desperate defending from Ospina and Manolas denied the Belgian.
Inter threw all of the bodies forward in the ultimate exchanges, but were unable to breach Ospina who led his side to a first-leg win.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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